Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-05-26
let a. Do Our Dutv

~a -
Let us Do Our Duty.
Every cline and age produces its great
men. As time rolls on new work de-
mands new laborers. AS life is one
grand drama each race has a piece to play.
Empires. Kingdoms and Republics have
arisen, iourished and decayed, whose
achievements have influenced the general
current of the worlds affairs, and made
the condition of the world what we now
see 1t. Asia was the land Of births and be.
ginnings, and played indeed a wondrous
part In history; but when In the order Of
Divine providence her appointed task
was completed. IL was given to other
lands and other peoples to carry forward
the great work of humanity; and we
shall find that with the Aryan a on
the free soil Of Europe first comes true
progress-a progressive people must be a
free peoples. But political freedom is
not a safeguard against vice and immor-
atty. Where was Greece in the days of
her Attic purity2 Where stood Rome
when Virgil struck his Tyre, and Horace
in'matchless %cloquence dashed and expos.
ed the follies of his age? The prevailing
RIGHTEOUSNESS of Greece and Rome gave
sad evidence that freedom in all her
boosted powers could not effectually re.
claim to virtue. AS a race we have
great responsibilities resting upon US;
notwithstanding the many disadvantages
under which we labor, there is a great
work for us to do. The whole civilized
world Is gazing upon us, wondering
what will our future be. Let us press
forward with our age let us make a
bright link in the history of our country,
let us be slaves no longer to either men
or parties; race first, party afterwards.
Parties may rise, rule and fall and the
racers oe~ditinn he not hn-aa.-a hs thom
The republican party has done much
and the negro has never repudiated his
debt to 1t, but II must not get weary in
well-doing. 1t can no more live upon
the record of the past than can a pro-
fessed christian get to heaven on a chris
tian life discontinued 20 years before his
death. Its swiftness to do us justice
after the war is not until now either for.
gotten or unrequited, but the political
race is not to the swift only; endurance
in well-doing is no less q virtue in public
than in private life. Folly was at the
helm in "a, and her hitherto victorious
banner begrimed with dirt was tramplcd
under the foot of the unwashed democ-
racy, and II prejudice acts steersman
now defeat will be her portion in 'SS.
Men of color we must fight our own bat
ties, every mans destiny is the work of
his own hands; we must educate or we
will perish. Education intellectually
physically, and morally will enrol our
names among the good and great. Let
us improve our time; let us not lose
from two to three hundred golden mo.
ments, deoked with sixty diamond sec.
onds. each day, by standing on street
corners smoking cigars or doing some.
thing equally foolish, but let us improve
every opportunity, to gain knowledge.
for knowledge is power. We need good
orators, men who are able 10 speak elo-
quently. for there is power in eloqucnce.
Behold Demosthenes rousing electrified
throngs till they exclaim: LET us march
against Phillip, let us conquer or de-
Behold a Cicero welding the most pow
erful scepter on earth by his flowing and
effective e%loquence. Behold a Burke
speaking not mainly TO the few thou
sand crowded around him, but to q
mighty empire--to the entire civilized
world, and for ages after his voice was
hushed in death. Let us strive to make
the world better for our having lived in
1t, and as we are soon TO engage In o
great life or death battle for prohibition,
let us work for the overthrow Of king al
cohol, and as in the past SO lett be In the
future, let us be found on the side of
right and justice; let us do our duty
toward God and humanity, then the ne
gro will be felt, heard and appreciated
in this southland of ours ere o few more
suns revolve In space.
Let us do IL duty and If moral ruin
passes upon the race, If misfortune, and
sorrow and death be the lot of human,
ity. II the grave be a dreary and appal.
ling mansion, you will at least have
secured a part in the blessed Immortality
that flourishcs beyond 1t. Make God
your friend. Trust not In the world
fair promises. They will only betray
you. "a broken reed at last, but of {
spear, on whose sharp point Peace bleed
and hope expires"
CORNELIUS G. FITzaERALD.